Chelsea turns in the stool and faces the bar. “I saw that the band filed a restraining order against Moreno Entertainment.”
“Yeah, we did. We’ve been having some issues with Sam. Do you remember her?”
“I do. She was an evil little thing, wasn’t she?”
“Still is,” I answer before taking a swig of my beer.
“Was,” Chelsea states.
“What do you mean, was?”
She takes out a newspaper clipping and puts it down in front of me. My eyes widen as I read the article
Samantha Moreno was found dead in her apartment after an apparent drug overdose. She is the daughter of…
I reread the first line multiple times so that I can recite it word for word. I need to tell Liam.
“When did this happen?”
“Right after Christmas,” Chelsea says.
The wedding was after Christmas. It makes me wonder whether this was a reaction to Liam getting hitched.
“Look Jimmy that’s not why I’m here. Obviously I had this in my purse for a bit, waiting to find you.”
I cock my head and glare at her. She always has an ulterior motive. “What do you want?”
“I miss you, Jimmy. I was thinking we should try again.”
“Pardon me? I think I misheard you. I’m pretty sure you said you wanted us to start over, but I know that can’t be the case since mummy dearest would have a fit and daddy would cut you off. Surely you prefer spending your dosh more than you like having me hanging around.”
“That’s not true, Jimmy. I made a mistake.” And she’s making one now. I flinch when she touches me, but that doesn’t register with her. She keeps her hand on my shoulder, her perfectly manicured nails tracing circles on my shirt.
“A mistake? Is that what you call shagging two blokes in my bed?” I finish my beer and signal for my tab. ”Listen, Chels, I need to get going. You can call me or whatever, but I’m not sure how the whole dating thing will work out.” I kiss her on the cheek as I get up throwing some cash on the table for my bill. Thing is, if she’s serious, I’d probably let my heart take a kicking and take her back.
As the girl behind the bar takes my tab, I have second thoughts about not pissing where I eat. I’m frustrated and I have needs, and right now I need to get Chelsea out of my brain. I signal to the girl with the ‘fuck me eyes’ and she knows exactly what I want. Chelsea’s mouth drops open. She knows what I’m about to do and right now, I don’t give a flying fuck
.
I shoulder my guitar while I wait for my suitcases to show up on the baggage reclaim. Thoughts of leaving Chelsea at the bar play over and over in my mind. Most would call me an idiot for leaving her behind last night when she’s pretty much an easy shag for me, but the heartache that comes from loving her is too much to bear, even if it’s for one night or two. Her incessant text messages clogged up my phone as soon as I disappeared with the bargirl. She even had the nerve to ask me what I was doing. I have no doubts that she listened outside the bathroom door. The bargirl was definitely the safer option last night for sure.
Chelsea’s parents don’t approve of me and she always listens to them. They have the money that lets her live a lavish lifestyle and while I know I could make sure she is well looked after, it would never be what she’s used to.
I haven’t called Liam or Harrison to let them know I’d be back a week early. Liam is still in his honeymoon period and Harrison is shacking up with his honey, playing house and all that crap. They don’t need to open their doors to me when they’re busy like this.
I stand patiently at the car-hire desk. I didn’t make a reservation because, to be honest, I didn’t think I needed one in such a small town. Yet here I am, tapping my fingers lightly on the desk while the clerk bites her lower lip and flips her hair every so often while staring at a computer screen. Subtlety is obviously not her forté. I have no doubt that on the screen is her frigging Twitter profile and she’s tweeting something about me. Maybe I should search for my name while I stand here and tweet her back.
I look at my watch and exhale loudly. By the time she gets around to finding me a car, I could be knocking on Liam’s door and sitting down for breakfast.
“Sweetheart, would it be easier if I found a different car-hire place to provide my transport while I’m in Beaumont?”
“Oh no, Mr. Davis, I was just communicating with our fleet manager. I’m printing the paperwork now.” And just like that the printer starts spitting out my hire contract. Amazing how that happens.
She puts the contract down on the desk and shows me where to sign my name. When she hands me my copies, her business card is attached at the top.
“Call me if you have any problems. I’ve even included my cell number in the event that we’re closed.”
“Aren’t you open twenty-four hours?” The look on her face is priceless. I’ve never seen someone blush so quickly before. Okay, that’s a lie. There’s that girl that I’m itching to see again. I had her blushing in a matter of seconds, which I think was a record, even for me. Usually I have to sweet talk and romance them first, but not her.